Promalactis subgladiata Wang, 2021

Wang, Shuxia & Liu, Chen, 2021, Taxonomic study of the genus Promalactis Meyrick, 1908 (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) X. The commotica species-group, with descriptions of twenty-two new species, Zootaxa 4980 (2), pp. 293-330 : 320-321

Promalactis subgladiata Wang , sp. nov.

( Figs 20 , 42 , 58 )

Type material. CHINA, Hunan: Holotype ♂ , Jiangjunzhai, Mangshan , Yizhang County, 1239 m, 26.VII.2020, leg. H Sun et al., slide No. LC 19714 . Paratypes (4♀): same data as holotype, slide No. LC 19767 ♀ .

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to P. gladiata Wang, 2016 in the male genitalia. It can be distinguished by the distally bifurcate uncus with a pointed apex, and the costa of the valva distally extending ventrad to above and before the ventro-apical corner; in P. gladiata , the uncus is apically rounded, and the costa of the valva does not extend ventrad distally.

Description. Adult ( Fig. 20 ). Forewing length 8.0 mm.

Head: Vertex white, frons and occiput yellowish brown. Labial palpus with basal and second palpomeres pale yellow; third palpomere dark brown, white at apex. Antenna with scape white, flagellum dark brown on ventral surface, basal several flagellomeres white and remaining flagellomeres white alternated with dark brown on dorsal surface.

Thorax: Dorsum of mesothorax dark greyish brown; tegula dark rust brown. Forewing yellow; markings white edged with greyish black scales: costal spot sub-triangular, from distal 1/3 reaching posterior angle of cell; basal streak reaching base of fold; antemedian streak from dorsal 1/3 reaching basal 1/3 of cell below anterior margin; dorsal streak from distal 1/4 extending to distal 1/4 of posterior margin of cell, then bent obliquely outward to before tornus; tornal spot deep grey, with diffused blackish brown scales; apical spot ovate; dense grey and black scales from below apical spot along termen to tornus, forming a band; fringe ochreous yellow except grey around tornus. Hindwing and fringe grey. Fore- and midlegs black; tibiae with white spot at base and middle respectively, with a tuft of white scales at apex, tarsi white at apex of each tarsomeres; hindleg greyish yellow, tinged with brown scales.

Abdomen: Male genitalia ( Fig. 42 ). Uncus wide at base, distal 1/5 bifurcate, forming two triangular lobes with pointed apices. Gnathos slightly shorter than uncus; mesial plate narrow triangular, sclerotized laterally; basal arms wide at base, narrowed to mesial plate. Tegumen widened medially; lateral arms distinctly narrowed to apex. Valva elongately narrow, basal 2/3 parallel-sided, distal 1/3 slightly dilated, rounded apically; costal margin deeply incised beyond costa, forming a broad lanceolate distal process; costa widely parallel from base to basal 2/3, then widened and extending ventrad to above and before ventroapical corner of valva, curved dorsad and forming a free distal process bearing two spines distally; sacculus wide, more than 2/3 width of valva. Saccus shorter than uncus. Juxta narrow basally, separated distally; lateral arms slender, straight; basal lobe slender, short. Aedeagus shorter than valva, straight, acute at apex; cornutus absent.

Female genitalia ( Fig. 58 ). Apophyses posteriores greater than twice length of apophyses anteriores; apophyses anteriores thicker. Lamella postvaginalis large, sub-quadrate, concave semicircularly at middle on posterior margin, with a heavily sclerotized, narrow triangular process arising below concavity medially. Seventh sternum semicircular, rounded on posterior margin. Ductus bursae with posterior half uniform, posterior 1/3 heavily sclerotized, anterior 2/3 inflated, partly sclerotized. Corpus bursae ovate, shorter than corpus bursae, granulate; signum rhomboidal, with two denticles.

Distribution. China (Hunan).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin sub- and the congener gladiata , referring to the similarities of the two species in features of the male genitalia.

Figures

FIGURES 17‒22. Adults of Promalactis spp. 17, P. similibellatula, holotype, ♂; 18, P. squamacea, holotype, ♂; 19, P. stenognatha, holotype, ♂; 20, P. subgladiata, holotype, ♂; 21, P. tengchongensis, holotype, ♂; 22, P. triangulivalva, holotype, ♂. Scales = 2 mm.

FIGURES 40‒44. Male genitalia of Promalactis spp. 40, P. squamacea, holotype, slide No. DZH12334; 41, P. stenognatha, paratype, slide No. JYY17582; 42, P. subgladiata, holotype, slide No. LC19714; 43, P. tengchongensis, holotype, slide No. HXM14152; 44, P. triangulivalva, holotype, slide No. JYY17244. Scales = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 56‒58. Female genitalia of Promalactis spp. 56, P. squamacea, slide No. DZH12245; 57, P. stenognatha, slide No. JYY17847; 58, P. subgladiata, slide No. LC19767. All paratypes. Scales = 0.2 mm.